Mmm, there's really nothin' better than the smell of homemade bread...
Except maybe the taste of it!
Since I discovered how to bake with Natural Yeast, I've been working hard perfecting the recipe. The main problem in working with natural yeast/sourdough/wild yeast is well, that tangy sour taste.
At first I was all, "Oh I totally love sourdough, this'll be a cinch."
You discover however, after using sourdough bread in french toast, grilled cheese sandwiches, & PB&J, that the sourdough flavor you used to love is getting old.
Fast.
I decided to use my brains to figure out how to make sourdough.... well, not sour.
Turns out it ain't so easy!
Loaf after loaf of my beautiful bread instead turned into bricks.
Man alive, nothin' can make a girl more mad than a whole wheat brick.
But, I am here to announce that this girl has reached a milestone folks. I have discovered the secret to making homemade bread with natural yeast, yet matching the taste of regular whole wheat bread.
Unfortunately, that recipe is for another day. Just wait, it's gonna be epic.
Well, as epic as bread making can get.
Which is still pretty epic.
Now, on to the other shenanigans on the farm!
Baby Lambs!
My goodness, these little lambs are so cute! Especially since they were washed clean from the rain.
I was so excited for the rain so these babies would finally get the birth goo washed off of them.
Why not wash the birth goo off myself, you ask? It's harder than you think, I say.
Why am I a mean farmer who makes her sheep stand in the rain? I give shelter, they no like, I say.
In other news, spring has sprung down here in Arizona. Jealous?
But I'm pretty sure that would kill them.
Dang it.
Why do the best hugs always kill?
Our sweet neighbor was kind enough to give us all of her weeds, which we gladly took for our goats. They gobbled it up like it was Christmas morning's sausage gravy!
Without the sausage.
Or gravy.
More like vegetable gravy.
Or like salad.
Yeah, just mostly like salad.
Before I let you go...more pictures of baby lambs!
In case you're wondering she tasted delicious.
Just kidding, we didn't butcher our prize-laying hen!
We butchered one of the old ones.
And, just one more of THE bread. Can I hear an applause?
In conclusion, this weekend consisted of stuffing our faces with homemade natural yeast bread & smothering clean baby lambs with hugs. Don't worry, they weren't the killing kind of hugs. How 'bout you?
p.s. What do ya' think of the new blog design? Pretty schnazzy, eh?
Im new on the blo(ck)g and I love it the more I
ReplyDeleteread...Thank you for fantastic advice and just great simple health living principles!
Hey DaNelle! I'm fairly new to your blog, but I did notice the redesign - yes, very schnazzy! Just started following you on Pinterest, using your link up top. I knew you had goats, but not chickens and sheep! We are just (in a few weeks) about to move out to the country on 2.5 acres. I finally get to have the chickens and dairy goats I've dreamed about for years - WOOHOO! I'm looking forward to browsing through your site more to find out all your tips about chickens and goats. AND, after milling wheat and making my own bread for years, I've just recently become convinced that I need to be preparing it more traditionally, and souring appears to be the best way to go - so I am EXCITED to hear that you'll be sharing a tried-and-true recipe that you've worked out!
ReplyDeleteI will be anxiously waiting for your bread recipe. I got the free natural yeast and have not used it yet. Your baby goats are adorable. Seeing your chicken in a dish, I thought about my favorite chicken rub recipe and wanted to share it with you.
ReplyDeleteYou rub this mixture all over a whole chicken(4-5#), stuff the chicken with one whole onion(quartered) and 4 cloves of garlic, place the chicken breast side down in a crockpot and cook it on low for 8 hours. No liquid needed - it makes it's own juice.
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
pinch of chili powder
Hope your family enjoy!
can't wait for the sourdough-that-tastes-like-whole-wheat recipe!
ReplyDeleteoh yes, and i LOVE the fancy new look!
I just found you through Pinterest, and already I heart you! I wish I could have chickens and baby lambs and natural yeast bread! I'll just live vicariously through you, yes?
ReplyDeleteI really want that bread recipe! :)
ReplyDelete